US Border Patrol agents seize over 600 pounds of pot

Deming seizure nets 90 pounds near Columbus

Courtesy Photo
US Border Patrol agents working out of the Lordsburg Station seized over 400 pounds of marijuana in an attempt to smuggle the illegal drug into the United States.

EL PASO, Texas >> El Paso Sector Border Patrol agents in New Mexico and Texas arrested 12 subjects and seized more than 600 pounds of marijuana a week ago in five separate seizures during a 24-hour period.

Agents assigned to the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana and arrested seven subjects with the use of high-end night vision technology. The effective use of this technology allowed the agents to observe, track and locate the subjects and the contraband in a short amount of time.

On the same date, agents in Deming seized more than 90 pounds of marijuana that were being concealed in animal corrals west of Columbus. An extensive search of the area resulted in the arrest of one subject.

Approximately 125 miles northeast of this location, agents assigned to the Alamogordo Border Patrol Station's Highway 54 traffic checkpoint, arrested two subjects and seized over 50 pounds of marijuana hidden inside the spare tire of a pickup truck. The marijuana was discovered after a U.S. Border Patrol canine team conducted a non-intrusive sniff of the vehicle, which yielded a positive alert to the presence of a scent that the dog is trained to detect.

The subjects were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in El Paso, pending prosecution.

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In the El Paso area, agents assigned to the Ysleta station traffic checkpoint located on Highway 62-180 in Desert Haven, TX, stopped another load of marijuana from reaching the streets. With the assistance of a U.S. Border Patrol canine, agents took one subject into custody and seized more than 62 pounds of marijuana that was concealed in the dashboard of the vehicle.

Agents working at the Clint, TX., Border Patrol Station conducted a vehicle stop near the intersection of Texas Highway 20 and OT Smith, after witnessing an accident involving a Ford Mustang which struck a railroad crossing guard pole and fled the scene.

The subject proceeded to flee the area but after a brief foot pursuit agents were able to detain and question the subject.

A non-intrusive canine search of the vehicle, revealed a small amount of marijuana. Record checks on the driver revealed an outstanding warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

The El Paso County Sherriff's Office was then contacted and took custody of the subject.

In one day alone, agents assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol, El Paso Sector seized a total 608.3 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $486,640.

These latest seizures demonstrate the diligence and professionalism of agents assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol in far west Texas and New Mexico.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.